By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
The Chiefdom Speaker of Baoma Chiefdom, Chief Alhaji Fodie Kallon, has lifted the suspension on sand mining activities at the Nganyama sand mining site following a successful dialogue between sand miners and chiefdom authorities.
The suspension, which took effect on Saturday, 10 January 2026, was imposed after sand miners in the Nganyama community failed to comply with directives from chiefdom authorities aimed at resolving issues that had earlier sparked protests.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, in Gerehun, Chief Kallon explained that the temporary suspension was necessary to create an enabling environment for calm engagement and an amicable resolution of the dispute. The meeting brought together representatives from the Office of National Security (ONS), theSierra Leone Police (SLP), section and town chiefs, and other key chiefdom stakeholders.
Chief Kallon emphasized that the decision to halt operations was not punitive but intended to encourage dialogue and mutual understanding between the aggrieved sand miners and chiefdom authorities. He cautioned the miners to conduct their activities with diligence and respect for established authority, assuring them that their concerns would receive urgent attention.
Acting on behalf of the Paramount Chief of Baoma Chiefdom, Chief Kallon officially lifted the ban and directed the immediate resumption of sand mining activities at the Nganyama site, describing the engagement as fruitful and peaceful.
Representing the security sector, the District Security Coordinator for the Office of National Security, Swahibu Koroma, urged the sand miners to always follow established referral and grievance-redress mechanisms when aggrieved, rather than resorting to unlawful actions. He reminded them that the law applies equally to all and strongly condemns acts that undermine public order and due process. Mr. Koroma also cautioned that some actions taken during the protest were not supported by law.
Also addressing the meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sulaiman Alpha Kargbo, Officer Commanding the Gerehun Police Post, warned against indiscipline and stressed that the police would not tolerate any breach of the peace. He cautioned the miners against repeating past actions, noting that protests should never be treated as a first or last resort without exhausting lawful avenues of engagement.
In response, representatives of the Nganyama sand miners tendered an apology to the chiefdom authorities and security agencies, pledging not to take the law into their own hands in the future. They assured stakeholders that their return to work would mark a renewed commitment to peace and cooperation within Baoma Chiefdom.
The protest by the sand miners was reportedly triggered by concerns over what they described as an increase in taxes imposed by chiefdom authorities on their mining activities.